Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang meet this weekend in a heavyweight clash that is perhaps as much of a restoration of faith as it is an absolute slugfest. 

A restoration of faith in the sense that both men are willing to take a fight attributed with risk. For Joyce, navigating a 6ft 6in southpaw when you really don’t have to is not only a show of confidence, but a declaration of intent. 

Zhang’s controversial defeat to Filip Hrgovic in August would have cut deep, but the scars show a fighter who is at home amongst the elite. As mentioned, 6ft 6in, southpaw… but you better believe his presence and style are far from the only attributes he possesses.   

Zhilei Zhang has the tools that could cause any heavyweight significant unrest. 

In fact, very similar to Joyce, it is his ability to stick in despite what is being thrown his way that makes him such a thankless task. It is a strategy that requires a certain boldness too. To stand in front of a 92kg+ man and believe you will not be moved, well, it’s almost deranged. 

Then again, I say almost, has anyone seen Big Bang this week…

So, with Zhang unwilling to move, and Joyce statistically leading the way in punches thrown, punches landed, and punches taken amongst the heavyweights… I think we might be spoilt for action. 

So where could Joyce potentially win this fight?

Well, if we again reference Zhang’s thriller with Hrgovic, then round eight onwards was fought at a pedestrian pace. Granted, the big men rarely stay full of beans right until the end. 

However, in Joyce, you have an engine that could run to the old-heavyweight days of 15 rounds. Add that with the obvious chin, the high-volume output, and the sheer size of the man. 

He is a nightmare. 

So whichever man is to walk away victor on Saturday night, presume that they will have had to dig deep. Also presume that they will have the respect of the fans who are currently watching as boxing’s glamour division sits in traffic. 

For Joyce, he has made no secret of his frustrations. 

And I get it. It must be infuriating having to wait for your shot as the champions sit incapable of moving things forward. Even more so now that Joe’s long-term rival Daniel Dubois has been thrusted into the reckoning. 

By the time Joe does get his moment, he will be older than Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield EVER were during their reigns as world champions. 

Of course, we must acknowledge that his boxing journey began at the age of 22 - by then Ali’s first reign as king was underway. I suppose we can say simply that Joyce must be patient. 

But at 37, with an Olympic silver, Commonwealth and European golds, an interim world title and even a bachelor’s degree in fine art - he is ready to taste the fruits of his already departing patience. 

And trust me, those fruits will be sweet. 

But until then, there’s a big bang in waiting. Do not f****** blink. 

Oscar Bevis